Origin
Payson, AZ
Night in Payson on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
MST
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Payson, AZ to Casa Grande, AZ
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 27m
Distance
123.8 mi
199 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 18m
★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 48m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Payson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Casa Grande, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 123.8-mile drive from Payson, AZ to Casa Grande, AZ will take about 2 hours and 27 minutes, making it a perfect single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily using the South Beeline Highway and the Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway, with a portion on the Price Freeway. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Desert Southwest. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience. This is a manageable drive for one day, requiring no overnight stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.9 miles from Payson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Beeline Highway | 72.1 mi | 1h 24m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 23.1 mi | 23m |
| Price Freeway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| North Pinal Avenue | 7.9 mi | 13m |
| Santan Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| East McDowell Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Pima Freeway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| State Route 387 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Beeline Highway
— 72.1 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Payson, AZ and Casa Grande, AZ.
1
Start on AZ 87
72 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
South Beeline Highway
Use the left lane.
2
Turn right onto East McDowell Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
East McDowell Road
3
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
Merge onto AZ 101 Loop
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pima Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on AZ 101 Loop
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Price Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 61B
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Santan Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 55A-B
Toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 55B
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
23 mi
·
23 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 185
Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward AZ 387 South: Casa Grande, Casa Grande Airport
13
Turn straight onto AZ 387
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
State Route 387
14
Continue on AZ 387
7.9 mi
·
13 min
·
North Pinal Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
AZ 287
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 27-minute drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Casa Grande without feeling rushed. While there are no designated stops in the data, you can easily find places to stretch your legs along the way as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 72.1-mile stretch on South Beeline Highway, and plan to refuel before you hit longer sections if you're starting with less than half a tank. The estimated fuel cost is around $25. Given the relatively short duration and the turn-heavy nature, you have flexibility to depart whenever suits you best.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.9 miles from Payson, AZ, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.9 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Casa Grande, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Payson, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Payson, AZ
This is one driving day of about 123.8 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Payson, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Beeline Highway for about 72.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.9 miles from Payson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Beeline Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 74.7 and 115 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
74.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Turn left toward AZ 101 Loop South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward AZ 101 Loop South
8
86.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward AZ 202 Loop West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 61B
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
6
90.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 55A-B
Toward I 10 West: Tucson, Phoenix
8
90.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Tucson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 55B
Toward I 10 East: Tucson
8
115 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 185
Toward AZ 187, AZ 387: Casa Grande, Coolidge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.66 one way
$49.33 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $26.10 | $52.20 |
| premium | $5.59 | $27.25 | $54.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.33 | $54.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.1 | 0 | $13.00 | $5.94 |
| Efficient EV | 31 | 0 | $10.83 | $4.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.5 | 0 | $17.33 | $7.92 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Casa Grande, AZ
Night in Casa Grande on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
MST
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
44 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 27m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
National Monument
An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether a gathering place for people or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 115.2
View on nps.gov
Tonto National Monument
National Monument
Located within the northern range of the Sonoran Desert lie two cliff dwellings that were occupied from 1300-1450 CE (common era). They represent a vibrant culture consisting of local and immigrant gr...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
$10
near mile 46.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive with a significant number of turns, characteristic of a more local road experience. Only 12% of this journey is on highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on roads that require more active navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 72.1 miles on the South Beeline Highway. As you progress, the road will likely transition between different types of local and arterial roads, so keep your focus sharp. This isn't a monotonous highway cruise; it's a more engaging, turn-filled adventure.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.1 mi on South Beeline Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 74.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 123.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 74.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 86.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Payson, AZ and Casa Grande, AZ, road signs point toward Phoenix, Coolidge and Casa Grande Airport.
Phoenix
90.4 mi in
|
~1h 47m
Coolidge
115 mi in
|
~2h 13m
Casa Grande Airport
115.3 mi in
|
~2h 13m
About the Cities
Starting in Payson, AZ
Full guide →Payson is a town in Gila County, Arizona. Known as the "Heart of Arizona," it is a gateway to the Colorado Plateau and the Mogollon Rim in Northern and Eastern Arizona.
Arriving in Casa Grande, AZ
Full guide →Casa Grande is a city in South Central Arizona that is largely a commuter town for people working in Tucson or Phoenix. It was the site of an internment camp for Japanese-Americans during World War II, and has played a prominent role in baseball in the United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 123.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.1 miles on South Beeline Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Casa Grande, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 74.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 86.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Tonto National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Casa Grande, AZ before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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